Monday, June 19, 2006

Crazy, adventurous life

Friends from as far as England gathered Sunday to share memories of Sue Nott, who was last seen in mid-May with climbing partner Karen McNeill attempting to climb Alaska’s Mount Foraker.

Nearly 1,000 people attended the memorial service at Ford Amphitheater in Vail.

As Karen Nott began reading a poem for her sister, a gust of wind rolled through the amphitheater over a large smiling picture of Sue Nott, The Vail Daily reported.

A startled Karen Nott looked up from the podium. “Hi, Sue,” she said, her voice shaking.

Nott, 36, and McNeill, 37, were last seen on May 14 at the base of the Infinite Spur route. Rescuers searched for days when they failed to return to base camp.

Friend John Varco said he hoped people would remember Nott in overcoming their own troubles. “Hopefully when the little things begin to bother you, you won’t sweat them.”

“Wow, what an outstanding life this woman lived,” pastor Tommy Schneider said. “What a crazy adventurous life she lived. She took this life she had and threw it in the pond, and it had ripples, huge ripples.”

(Above, friend Zoe Hart stands in front of a large photo of Sue Nott at the services. /Preston Utley of The Vail Daily)